Being an exchange student in Canada is a terrifying yet exciting phase in your life. Not everyone is granted the opportunity to be one, so it’s just right that you know how to make it worth it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in to be an exchange student for a year or an entire course. What’s important is you get your hands on the country, its culture, and your student life as soon as possible for you to enjoy.
If you want to be in on some of the best tips for exchange students in Canada, then read on to the following sections:
#1: Open a bank account for international students.
If you’re going to stay in Canada as an exchange student for quite a long time, then you should highly consider opening a bank account for international students as soon as you settle down. This will help you in better managing your finances and avoiding related issues in the long run.
Here, a reputable bank will also be able to provide you with a debit card. This is the usual mode of payment in Canada, especially when it comes to bills, because of how convenient it is.
When applying, you may be required to provide your documents, both personal and travel, along with your current residential information. It will also be subject to further approval before you can proceed.
#2: Give importance to punctuality.
Punctuality is one of the top qualities of Canadians. Whether it’s a formal meeting, class lecture, or a regular group hangout with other classmates and friends, you need to always be on time. If not, then don’t expect that you’ll leave a good impression on your newfound companions.
If you’re someone who is always late, then you should immediately improve this behavior once you become an official exchange student in Canada. It’s important that you adapt to their time and fast-paced living, so you can similarly adjust to your new life.
#3: Avail of health insurance.
If you’re moving to Canada alone and don’t know anyone beforehand, keep in mind that you have no control over what can happen in a new country.
This is why it’s important for you to avail yourself of your health insurance. This will help you save a lot of money on health expenses, as well as avoid constantly piling bills if ever emergencies happen.
If you’re interested in this, then you should first consult with your university before directly going to insurance firms. Doing so will enable you to collect a list of choices and decide on which will be best for your current status.
Note that requirements and fees will vary depending on where you apply to and what your current immigrant status is.
#4: Fill up before a lecture.
As an exchange student, you will be attending a lot of lectures, both online and face-to-face. If so, you should keep in mind that a regular session takes 3 hours at the very least. Hence, it will be the best choice to fill your stomach up before attending one. In this way, you will have enough energy to learn and actually keep all your new readings in mind.
The good thing about this is Canada’s highly efficient education system. This means that despite the painstakingly long lecture sessions, you’ll surely end up with enough knowledge.
#5: Constantly research about the Canadian culture.
Living in Canada, no matter if it’s for a short or long period, means that you need to adapt and live by the country’s culture. Of course, you can do this only if you know what the citizens actually live by.
This brings us to our last tip. Constantly research about the Canadian culture.
It’s not enough that you stick to the basic etiquettes of the country and its residents. You should also know what their beliefs are, what they consider disrespectful, their local cuisines, souvenirs, best local spots, and likes. Having a concrete idea over these things will let you move in swiftly as Canada’s exchange student.
Summary
More often than not, being an exchange student is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you manage to be one of those who will be sent to Canada to study, make sure that you will be able to make the most out of your time in the country. This involves not only learning about the culture of Canadians but personally experiencing them.
Another thing, one of the key qualities that will make up a good time in the country is not being tied up in any kind of legal issues throughout the period.
This may be hard if you don’t have existing knowledge of the subject, so it will be best if you consult with professional immigration lawyers. They will be able to walk you through everything you need to know in terms of being an international student.